New York Islanders Blackhawks’ Postgame – Time for Change

The New York Islanders extended their losing streak to three games last night against the Blackhawks. Here is what Coach Jack Capuano had to say after the hard fought loss.

No Capuanosense tonight after the most recent New York Islanders loss. My only response at this point is that its time for a change.

When Capuano took over for Scott Gordon a little over six years ago, the team was in the midst of a horrible slump.  He inherited a tough situation coaching a roster full of castoffs and prospects that was only above the cap floor because of Alexei Yashin‘s buyout.

It was a pretty dark time for the team as a whole and no one really knew if we were not spending free agent money because Charles Wang didn’t want to open the purse without an arena deal or because no one wanted to come to the island.

I don’t think anyone expected him to stay on as long as he has. At first, it was just an interim job.  Then when he was promoted to full bird coach. Most speculation as to why centered around the possibility that he would make a good coach for a young team looking to build a contender through the draft instead of by throwing around money.

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The problem is that he has proven that he is incapable of fostering the young talent that this team has supposedly been stockpiling.

Nino Niederreiter died on the vine playing ten minutes a night next to Brian Rolston and Jay Pandolfo. Ryan Strome and Anthony Beauvillier look destined to be in the same doghouse for no other reason than when it comes down to it, Jack Capuano prefers veterans, regardless of their ability, to young players.

In addition to his failure to nurture the drafted talent of this organization, he shows no ability to adapt to the changing NHL game.

The Islanders consistently block more shots and throw more hits than our opponents, clearly by design, only to be outshot again and again. Watching the Chicago game only highlighted the difference in styles.  A style which Jack Capuano either has no interest in trying or is incapable of teaching.  A style which I believe our personnel would flourish in.

Next: Capuanosense

I don’t think I’m alone in saying that no one expected Jack Capuano to last as long as he did. He did a yeoman’s job with teams that no one else would have wanted to coach.

Unfortunately, the leeway he clearly earned with Garth Snow for coaching at the cap floor should clearly be up by now. I don’t think anyone truly believes that even with a roster twice as talented as this one he could bring the Stanley Cup to Long Island. It is time for a change. Waiting just gives the devil time.